Joe Burrow comments on facing Myles Garrett as Browns star nears sack record

As the NFL heads into a decisive Week 18, one individual milestone has quietly taken center stage alongside playoff scenarios. Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett stands on the brink of history, just one sack away from breaking the NFL’s single-season sack record. Standing in his path is Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who addressed the situation with a calm, matter-of-fact response ahead of the divisional matchup.

Garrett enters the final week of the regular season with 22 sacks, tying the mark set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and T.J. Watt in 2021. While records often bring added tension, Burrow made it clear that he is not planning to approach the game any differently because of the historic chase.



Speaking to reporters this week, Burrow acknowledged Garrett’s dominance but dismissed any notion of overthinking the moment. “I’m not going to go out of my way to stop him from getting the record, and I’m not going to go out of my way to let him get it either,” Burrow said. “I’m just going to play football.”

A familiar matchup with high stakes

Burrow is no stranger to Garrett’s disruptive presence. In fact, Garrett has sacked Burrow more than any other quarterback during his NFL career, a testament to the Browns defender’s impact within the AFC North. Cincinnati’s offensive line has struggled with consistency in recent seasons, making this matchup particularly challenging as Garrett lines up for what could be a defining moment in his career.

Despite that history, Burrow framed the situation as part of the natural flow of the game. He noted that there are moments where taking a sack is simply the lesser of two evils, especially when weighed against the risk of a turnover or forced throw.



“It’s such a situational game,” Burrow explained. “Sometimes a sack is the best bad outcome. Other times, you get rid of the ball. You can’t go into it thinking about records.”

Garrett’s pursuit of the sack record has been one of the few bright spots in a difficult season for the Cleveland Browns, who enter Week 18 out of playoff contention. Even so, the edge rusher’s consistency and explosiveness have drawn praise from across the league, regardless of team success.

For Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, the priority remains finishing the season on a strong note. While Garrett’s milestone looms large, Burrow’s comments underline a broader NFL reality: respect for greatness does not override competitive integrity.

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